Archive of 236 vernacular photographs of an African-American serviceman's deployment with the 228th Aviation Battalion in Vietnam

N.p. N.p., Circa 1969-1971. Archive of 236 vernacular photographs documenting an African-American serviceman's deployment as a cavalryman with the 228th Aviation Battalion, likely at An Khe, Vietnam, as well as his life back home in the US, circa 1969-1971. Includes 180 black-and-white and 56 color photographs, housed in two photograph albums.

The serviceman in question appears to be Isaac Johnson, whose name is written in a caption on one photograph, and whose image appears throughout both photograph albums, reconfirmed by a page near the end of the first album with the endearing heading "Some of the Woman [sic] in Johnson's Life ... Before Me."

The first album contains 153 photographs showing Vietnam, and 83 photographs showing friends and family back home in the US, most with captions in manuscript ink on the margins. The album's first half documents friends, family, and events back home, including the serviceman's wedding. The second half, beginning on the ninth leaf, captures what appears to be the soldier's initial deployment in Vietnam, showing images of Chinook and Sikorsky helicopters, various military vehicles, village and base scenes, Vietnamese locals, and fellow soldiers.

Following the Vietnam photographs are two pages containing Johnson's military insignias, Vietnamese currency, and military payment certificates. The following leaf presents photographs—one of a stereo and two of a young boy, likely the soldier's son—alongside two ticket stubs, dated August 28, 1970, from Baltimore Baseball Club, captioned "Darryl's first Baseball Game." (The tickets on that date were apparently for the Baltimore Orioles versus the Milwaukee Brewers at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.) The final leaf contains a computer printout of an "A Co 228th ASH Wildcats" insignia and two maps of Vietnam, both with An Khe circled.

The second photograph album, containing the majority of photographs taken in Vietnam, presents 128 photographs, largely black-and-white images of fellow soldiers at work and leisure, as well as barracks, structures, and equipment, Vietnamese locals and girlfriends, Chinook helicopters, and the Vietnamese countryside. The final two leaves of the album contain 16 photographs of family, friends, children, and a pet cat, all in the US.

Photographs: 2.5 x 3.5 inches to 5 x 3.5 inches. Very Good plus to Near Fine overall, with a few photographs starting to detach from leaves.

Green album: 14 x 11 inches. Very Good plus, with some light edgewear and rubbing to the corners.

Black album: 13.25 x 9.75 inches. Very Good plus, with some chipping near the hinge on the front board.

[Book #162967]